Drills for establishing spring wheat; power harrow combination drill, minimum tillage Vaderstad drill, Ecodyn direct drill

Characterisation of soil quality following conventional & non-inversion tillage

Author(s): 
Vijaya Bhaskar, AV, Davies, WP, Cannon, ND & Conway, JS
Funders: 
The John Oldacre Foundation
Organisation: 
Royal Agricultural University
Copyright: 
Creative Commons Licence
Evidence: 
Academic research
Related theme: 
People & skills
Type, texture & structure
Compaction & cultivation
Cereals, oil seeds & pulses
Grasslands & forage crops

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Resource explained: 

Inappropriate and long-term conventional tillage can lead to reduced soil quality. This poster documents the details of an experiment carried out at the Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) Harnhill Manor farm. It compared the effects of high residue non-inversion tillage (HRNiT) and low residue non-inversion tillage (LRNiT) with conventional tillage (CT) on soil chemical and biological properties. Soils under conservation tillage generally have increased soil organic matter and greater microbial activity. Improved soil structure can potentially improve how cropping systems function; by increasing water holding capacity and enhancing nutrient conservation. This study, conducted from October 2010 to August 2012, reveals some interesting insights.

Findings & recommendations: 
  • The CT plots had 0% soil cover, the LRNiT 30%, and the HRNiT less than 50%.
  • Winter wheat was planted in November 2010 and after harvesting in August 2011. The field was left with soil cover over the winter and cultivation treatments were repeated by re-drilling spring wheat in March 2012 and harvesting in August.
  • Soil pH, soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels and earthworm numbers were all recorded.
  • The study revealed that:
    • A reduced soil pH with non-inversion tillage compared with CT; caused by organic matter accumulating near the soil surface due to continual soil cover and increased moist soil condition.
    • Significantly higher soil organic carbon and nitrogen levels with non-inversion tillage compared with CT; due to limited soil disturbance and soil cover being retained. (Mouldboard ploughing can reduce soil organic carbon due to its loss as carbon dioxide).
    • A significant increase in earthworm numbers under non-inversion tillage compared to CT (attributed to the reduction of soil tillage and higher availability of organic matter on the soil surface).
    • Non-inversion tillage in organic farming has the potential to improve soil quality compared to CT.

Also see ‘Tillage and undersowing effects on organic wheat yield components and yield’ and 'Investigation of suitable legume species for undersowing in organic spring wheat.'

(Header image: Drills used for establishing spring wheat: power harrow combination drill, minimum tillage Vaderstad drill, & Ecodyn direct drill. Photo credit: RAU)

More about the organisation

Royal Agricultural University

partner Established in 1845, the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester has a long-standing, global reputation for teaching and research in the agricultural and related land-based sector. Today, the university has a vibrant, forward-thinking, international community. Currently there are more than 1,200 students from over 45 different countries studying at the historic campus, set in 25 acres of magnificent grounds in the heart of the Cotswolds. The Royal Agricultural University maintains consistently high levels of graduate employability. Over the past five years, 96% of undergraduates have entered employment or further study within six months, with 80% securing professional or managerial roles. 

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